I scream. You scream. We all screamed for ice cream.
And now Jessica and Nick Hanson of Mahomet have a plan to answer the call.
“We were finding ourselves driving out of town quite a bit for ice cream,” Jessica said. “My husband (Nick) saw a need in our community and said we should open an ice cream shop.”
Jessica agreed on one condition: if they could find a location downtown to be an integral part of the community.
With a growing list of downtown activities, including the Mahomet Music Festival, the Mahomet Soda Fest, and Trunk or Treat, alongside new businesses such as Rad Lad Games in vacant spots, Jessica feels like the downtown area is the best place to be.
Once the building adjacent where JT Walker’s once became available, the Hansons scooped it up.
“It’s crazy how many people walk by here,” Jessica said. “I get so caught up in all of the subdivisions outside of town that I forget there’s a lot of residential stuff right here. There’s just a ton of foot traffic.
“I think (The Main Scoop) will be a great spot for people to come and hang out.”
The Main Scoop will offer 20 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, cake, and homemade waffle cones when they open near the end of 2021. The ice cream will come from a distributor in Chicago whose name will be released when the details are finalized.
“They make it all in-house in the Chicago area,” Jessica said. “They have been doing it 21 years.”
During the site visit, the Hansons were impressed with the distributor’s attention to detail, using fresh ingredients, and offering dye-free and vegan options.
“It was really important to us to have something for everybody,” Jessica said.
Their three-year-old, Zani, who believes ice cream is a food group, is always drawn to the vanilla and chocolate flavors while others in the family are intrigued by a bright blue Oreo and cookie dough mix called Cosmic Blast.
Getting to opening day will continue to be a process, though. After working full-time jobs, and taking care of their children, including evening youth football practices, the Hansons have worked hard to lighten the interior, changing the tan interior to a bright yellow with a freshly painted white ceiling.
“We wanted a bright space for people to come to hang out,” she added. “We hope to be a date-night spot or a place where kids can hang out after school.”
“We’ve had our kids up here the whole time,” Jessica said.
Zani has a wagon full of toys and activities that keeps her entertained. Their 10-year hold, Kendon helps with some of the adult chores.
“They think they’re just part of it,” Jessica said.
Being part of something larger than self may just be the way the Hanson family works. Even though their doors aren’t open yet, the family helped out at the Soda Festival and participated in the homecoming parade.
“We’re going to definitely be involved in what’s going on in the community,” Jessica said.
“I work here locally. Our kids are in school here. We live here. It’s in our DNA.”
